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Hawley fired off a formal letter to Angelica Salas, the executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), a far-left nonprofit based in Los Angeles. CHIRLA has received federal funds under the Biden administration and is now under fire for allegedly being involved in organizing some of the most disruptive and aggressive anti-ICE demonstrations.
In his letter, Hawley minced no words.
“While peaceful protest is a cornerstone of American democracy, these demonstrations have escalated into lawless mob actions. They have obstructed federal law enforcement, endangered public safety, and disrupted the rule of law. This lawlessness is unacceptable. It must end,” the letter reads.
Hawley’s subcommittee is invoking its full authority, including subpoena power, to demand a detailed record of CHIRLA’s communications, financial documents, and any logistical planning connected to the demonstrations. That includes donor information, hotel bookings, travel records, media strategies, and equipment purchases.
And Hawley didn’t leave any wiggle room for stonewalling: “Failure to comply will result in additional action by this Subcommittee, including potential referral for criminal investigation.”
A recent exposé added even more fuel to the fire. California attorney Laura Powell took to X (formerly Twitter) with a damning thread exposing CHIRLA’s deep involvement in the protests—and its shocking financial ties to both state and federal government.
“If you are a Californian, the current LA riots are an example of your tax dollars hard at work,” Powell wrote. “The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights—CHIRLA—is one of the key players in fomenting the violent response to immigration enforcement actions.”
Powell highlighted the group’s radical history, including a 2018 push to abolish ICE, and pointed out that CHIRLA currently spearheads the “Los Angeles Rapid Response Network,” which actively gathers intel on immigration raids and deploys activists in real-time.
“CHIRLA has strong ties to the Democrat Party in California and has supported the election of Democratic candidates through its lobbying arm,” Powell explained. “It has a particularly close relationship with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.”
She went on to note CHIRLA’s close coordination with organized labor in the state—labor unions that pour massive resources into Democrat campaigns. Just last week, Powell said, CHIRLA hosted a public rally opposing ICE enforcement and decrying the arrest of SEIU President David Huerta, who was taken into custody for obstruction during the crackdown.
Then came the financial bombshell: Powell obtained a CHIRLA audit revealing that, for the fiscal year ending in June 2023, the group received a staggering $34 million from California taxpayers—about 72% of its total income.
“CHIRLA also received a $450,000 federal contract in 2023, which Mayor Bass publicly took credit for helping secure,” Powell continued. “DHS froze funding in February, which prompted a lawsuit from CHIRLA. DHA then canceled the contract, and the lawsuit was then dismissed.”
Powell ended with a warning: “Eisenhower warned of the military-industrial complex—now we face a nonprofit-industrial complex.”
As tensions continue to rise and lawmakers press for answers, one thing is clear: this isn’t just about protests—it’s about power, influence, and taxpayer money fueling what many now believe is a coordinated anti-law enforcement campaign. The American people deserve answers, and thanks to Senator Hawley’s leadership, they might finally get them.
